Pets Books

Excellent book. Would recomend any of her books to everyone. It was one of those books I didn't want to end.

Anyone who has ever experienced the damp cool of forest shadows, heard the russle of leaves as a wild occupant gathers food, or stood in awe while listening to the forest breath high in the tree tops upon a gentle breeze, will immediately be transported back to that magical place through the words of Helen Hoover and the wonderful illustrations of her artist husband Ade. Fleeing the city of Chicago to risk making a life in the far northern woods of Minnesota, seeking virgin timber and solitude, Helen writes of their struggles with near poverty and the anxiety of isolation. Through it all they find peace of mind and spirit, and advocate for the preservation of wild natural places to the greatest degree possible. Once you read one of her books you will collect them all, and like another reviewer has so stated, you read them over and over and over again. Dr. Daniel Baney

Helen Hoover is one of those rare people (apparently) who is gifted on both sides of the brain. She was a very successful scientist in Chicago in an era when women scientists were few and far between. Tired of city life and realizing she and her husband had a now or never shot at a new life in the north woods, they took the plunge and basically burned all their bridges, spent their nest egg, and bought a cabin in Minnesota. This is the story of the winter, of the wilderness people, of their animal and human friends, and their struggle. Mostly, in fact it is about their struggle to adapt, and is a revelation of their character and commitment as they deal with one obstacle after another, each one by itself difficult enough to precipitate an honorable surrender, as most people expected would happen. Instead of surrendering they thrived, however, and this is the story of their first year in the woods. It is not laugh out loud funny, and is as much a story of home repairs, on the surface, as anything, but all the small details, patched together, tell a story that is worth hearing. I feel like a heel being the first reviewer not to give it 5 stars, but 5 stars means a classic to me. I couldn't put it in the classic category, but I still found it a very good book.

I picked this book up off of my parents shelf when looking for something to read - how refreshing! Helen and Ade's struggles to make it outside of the material world are an inspiration to me. Being someone who always wanted to move "off the grid" and live off the land, it's neat to know it can be done. I have not taken that step as of yet, but it's always tempting, cannot wait to read her other books. If you're looking for a refreshing read that is a basic down to earth true story, this is one for you.

A place in the woods lets you get a sense of spending time in the deep woods of the north. Well written story about getting away from it all to spend life in a simple place with few material things but rich with nature and its pleasures. A story of persistance and self reliance rare in today's world. I enjoyed this years ago and enjoyed it just as much here 30 years or so later. Find a quiet place, read and be taken away form your own problems.

I'm not much for reviews. I'll just say that while Mr. Backster's writing style is very dry and borders on boring, the content is amazing.

The dry writing style only goes to show that this is a pragmatic man who stumbled across something amazing and had the open mindedness to pursue it.

I HIGHLY recommend it.

This book made me realize, when Mom made us say "grace" before meals as kids, it wasn't for that God guy, it was for us. I recommend this reading for our brains owners manual. Enjoy

This book was recommended to me by a friend who had a near death experience. I can't thank him enough for turning me on to it.

Anyone with a background in Eastern philosophies would have thought these experiments would be "no-brainers". But the Western world demands scientific proof. And even when they get it, if it doesn't conform to their paradigm, they shoot the messenger. Yep. Nice legacy.

How refreshing to find someone who wasn't worried about their reputation, but was seeking knowledge. It can't be coincidence that someone with Clive's background would undertake these fascinating experiments and ultimately come up with the information he did.

After I finished this book, I always apologize every time I turn on the hot water in the sink.

I am impressed with the details of the research this author has done.

I have heard of the work of Cleve Backster in many different places over the years, heard a few radio interviews with him (Art Bell, Jeff Rense, Whitley Streiber, George Noory) and finally, he's written a book explaining it all.

His work does seem to confirm the work of others (who are, to be sure, "newbies" compared to Mr. Backster), such as Lynn McTaggart, as well as some of the late night assertions of Whitley Streiber's strange visitor discussed in his book, "The Key," as well as the Chinese and Japanese concepts of chi and ki, respectively -- or "The Force" to those of us in the Star Wars generation, which apparently borrows liberally from the concepts of chi/ki (see Glen St. John Barclay's excellent book, "Mind Over Matter: Beyond the Bounds of Nature" for a most interesting read as well).

Lots of interesting data in Mr. Backster's book ... quite an ideal method to interest a young mind in the field of science, I'd bet.

This book is a must-have.

This book will leave a mark on your heart and your soul. It has always been said that the animal kingdom treats its members with much more kindness than humans do and this book is a testament to the compassion and love that our animal world has for itself and all the rest of us!

This book is a must-have if you know an animal lover or if you are one yourself. It tells many wonderful stories on animals acting in brave ways to show kindness to people and to other animals. It's very inspirational and it makes you respect animals a lot more.

I can't believe this book is out of print. Reading it is like opening up a treasure chest and finding one gem after another. Each animal story touched me and opened my eyes and my heart to the world of animals. The stories are short and easy to read, and I found myself having a hard time stopping to take a break sometimes, I kept wanting to hear more stories. A great book to read outloud to your children too, my son was also awed by the stories. I was amazed at how smart and how compassionate animals really are. There are some interesting animal facts included too as side notes. I highly recommend this book!

The first time I read this book I thought it was one of the most wonderful books I ever read. I thought the same thing the second time I read it. I loved every story. And the best part is it doesn't just give you stories about animals and what they've done to people to change their lives, or save them. But it also gives you notes on how to return the kindness. And even stories on how people helped animals. Some of the stuff in this book is almost to hard to belive, but if you think animals are wonderous creatures that deserve the love and respect that all living things want, then you will belive everything in this book. I did. After you read the stories in this book, you'll have a different out look on all creaturs, even ants. All the stories in this book are just wonderful and amazing. My 5th grade teacher read two of the stories in this book to my whole class, after that I looked for the book. And obviously found it. Anybody who loves and cherishes their animals will love this book. Or if you just love animals and want a good read, this book would be a perfect choice.

The stories in this book will make you realize the lessons, gifts, and teachings available from all of God's creatures. This is a book for the simple pet owner to the most avid animal right's activist. No household bookshelf should be without a copy.

This book is easy to use, yet provides the information that you need. Its color pictures make it easy to identify the coral that you see in the book out in the field.

For scuba divers, these volumns are unparalleled. There is so much to see under the sea and so many corals look very similar. Paul does an excellent job of helping you differentiate among species. Of course you have to use your memory or your camera to compare it to the guide book after the dive, cause the book does not tolerate depth very well. ;) Highly recommended book!

A field guide to coral, especially by Paul Humann, is essential to your collection of ocean field guides. Hundreds of coral species are listed, including: sea fans, hard corals, soft corals, and mushroom corals. The book also explains the many diseases that possibly afflict many species. The coral entries have excellent, detailed explanations beside them, concerning species depth, range, and abundance. The photograph transfers are above average, showing enough of the coral for identification purposes. The photographs are of course very beautiful, containing various, colorful hues of these animals. Buy the waterproof, annotated version of Reef Coral ID to bring along in the ocean on a scuba diving trip. The book has been updated twice since it was published, with the original print still floating around here on Amazon.com. The second edition is far superior, containing many more listings and more beautiful photos. Completely essential field guide for a private collection.

Don't take my word for it, go to a handful of dive shops and this author's name will come up more than once. An excellent book, I haven't come across anything I like better. The others in this family are just as good.

This Reef Coral Identification book is THE definitive guide. In brief there is not a better guide out there. It thoroughly covers each type of coral and gives identification information as well as full color photographs. In addition to all the corals it covers other plant life likely to be encountered while snorkeling or diving. These include grasses, weeds, algae and coral diseases. With a plastic cover and the pages treated to resist water it can be taken to the beach or onto the boat without much concern about the water damaging the book. For each item the book also discusses any danger to divers that the particular coral may represent (such as fire coral).

This book can also be purchased as part of a three part set that also includes the Reef Fish Identification and Reef Creature Identification texts, each of which is equally as excellent as the Reef Coral Identification book.

What a great read, just a pleasure to read the works of Sigurd. His stories give a real feel for what it is like in nature and gives a desire to enjoy the outdoors! His writing style is inviting and detailed, Truly a classic!

Every small story in this book seems to bring us peace & serenity. Sigurd brings out the part of a person that is called to nature and is connected with the earth. Every time we read from the book it seems to recenter us and put us back on track for better more fulfilling living.
The only semi-negative comment would be that his writing is very male dominated. This is not totally surprising since it is written in the early to mid 1900's.

This book consists of 28 essays, each a few pages long. The essays discuss general themes related to the outdoors, with reference to the North Country from Minnesota to Alaska. Olson is a marvelous writer, and the essays are captivating.

The book is divided into three parts: "Primal Heritage," "Search for Meaning," and "The Imponderables." The first group of essays ruminate on themes such as nomads, hunter-gatherers, silence in the woods, and the implications of these themes for modern life. The second group on meaning concerns one-word themes such as harmony, aliveness, beauty, and simplicity. These essays would provide an excellent basis for discussion in a book group or a classroom setting.

The third group is the least successful, and moves to a poorly-developed religious climax. In earlier essays in the book, Olson revealed himself as a Christian who sees the beauty of God's creation in the great outdoors. In the third part he moves toward a more synthetic position, finding common ground among many religions. That's fine, but it leads him to two essays on an "emergent God," which don't really work. He is a nature writer, not a theologian, and it shows.

Though many of his themes are timeless, such as the need for people to discover their true nature away from their urban lives, Olson discusses many anachronistic practices. When he would arrive in camp, his chores might include cutting pine boughs for a mattress, chopping down a tree for firewood and tent poles, and other destructive practices. Those are no longer possible.

Olson also reveals himself as a man living in a patriarchal time. He would disappear into the woods for weeks or months at a time, leaving his family behind. In this book, he mentions his son Sig several times but never mentions his wife, who presumably raised Sig and managed other household chores. Olson also sings the praises of his canoe-makers, and the joys of simple food in the backcountry such as rice, beans, and meats, but he does not raise any of that food himself. This reveals him as being connected to a wider economy and to people such as farmers who cannot disappear into the woods as he can.

Would Olson have been able to live his life in the woods without his wife, farmers, canoe-makers, and others living their lives in a house? The thought never crosses his mind, but we should ponder it.

This is the best book ever written on wilderness.

This book compiles some of Olson's best writings. In it, his last book, Olson further explores the concept of self-reflection and self-discovery through wilderness solace. His writing will be of interest to anyone who enjoys the outdoors (especially canoeing), but also readers who enjoy general contemporary philosophy.

This collection of original ads and the subsequent exercise done by at least 4 different design firms is a very interesting approach to an art book. I enjoyed the accompanying "interview" with each designer so you could align the feeling you got from the rework with their explanation of the approach.

I work as a designer myself in an advertising agency and have only had this book for a short time, but really enjoy looking and reading through it. It has givien me inspiration and motivation in my own work. Also it has been a good way of seeing how other designers and artist percieve the same idea or concept. This book is great for anyone who wants to see or learn how other designers work, it's a good motivational tool.

Right when I opened this book I already knew that I would be hooked. The idea that certain design work would be redesigned by other designers helps me to see that there is never one way to solving a problem. If you want a new perspective on a project you are on, perhaps this book will help!

I highly recommend this book for your library. As a graphic design student, it helps me prepare myself for what my competition will be. I love how it shows the original piece and re:designs from other designers. The interviews are so captivating it is hard for me to look at just the piece alone without reading the interview. It will help you become a stronger designer, and as a student, it will help you become less intimidated. Great book!!!

Quizás lo que aprendí en este libro es que cuando estamos trancados en un diseño, es mejor empezar desde cero, como si nunca hubieramos trabajado alguna idea sobre el mismo desde el comienzo.

Reviewed by Kim and Sean Peterson for Reader Views (5/06)

Karen Greene gives in to peer pressure. Wanting to be accepted, she agrees to ride a horse that demands more skill than she possesses. When she and the other teens ride the trail, Karen struggles to control the uncooperative horse, Comet. Her poor choice and the sudden appearance of a dirt bike on the trail place horse and rider in danger. When the frightened horse bolts, Karen and Comet suffer injuries in a traumatic accident on the nearby road. Although her body recovers, nightmares and lack of confidence plague her. Karen fears riding her own gentler Morgan horse, Robin.

Karen's parents decide to move Robin to a different training facility, Gallant Morgans, with the hope that their daughter will find a way to overcome her fear of riding horses. The less intimidating atmosphere exposes the teen to new friends, including Heather Richardson who helps the owner Chauncy train horses for show and for the trail.

As the humans, horses and other animals at Gallant Morgans help her overcome the apprehension about riding, they also encourage the redeveloping bond between Karen and Robin. The mare doesn't take advantage of Karen's trepidation, but is the essence of patience as her young owner strives to re-master the skills that have seemingly abandoned her.

As volunteer horse caretakers at a local therapeutic riding facility, we feel that Feld accurately portrays both the responsibilities of caring for a horse, as well as the special bond developed through time spent together. Girls (and guys) who long for the full equine experience will savor this fourth story in the Morgan Horse series.

All I can say is, I wish I were a teenage girl again, because this series would have been on my bookshelf right up there with the Black Stallion series, the "Flicka" series, Marguerite Henry, and all the other horse books that were close to my heart. I recommend starting with "Blackjack" and reading the series through in order, as you can see the characters, both human and equine, grow and learn, and new characters add a new dimension, just as they do in real life. The best part is, as I can testify as an owner of 5 Morgans, the equine episodes in the books are realistic. Morgans really ARE like the horses in the books. And as a mother of 3 teenage girls in the past, I can also testify that the girls in the books are very much like the adolescent girls that filled my house all those years ago. Even though I am WELL beyond my teenage years, I can't wait for the next book in the series - I hope it is as exciting and uplifting as "Robin". Knowing this series, I am sure it will be!

This is a great book for horse crazy people, children and adults. Well written. Ellen keeps getting better and better, her Morgan horse books are something any teenage girl would want, and adult horse lovers too. Highly recommended. All three books in this series are EXCELLENT!!

Once again Ellen is right on the mark when it comes to a believable story with the delicious overtones of whimsy and fantasy that horses conjure up in all of us. All of Ellen's books are worthy additions to any library of children's classics, and are a recommended read for all ages and genders. We await more additions to the trusty list!

Ellen Feld zooms me back to my childhood and memories of riding with my friends. Yep, we did some crazy things with our horses...and so many times it was a result of peer pressure. Our horses, like the Morgan horse Robin, seemed to know better and were there to help teach us so many valuable lessons. Ellen's story takes hold of this reality and addresses it with a mature hand and detail that floods the senses with the smell of horses and leather, the sounds of hoofbeats and laughter, the sight of green grass and wonderful Morgan horseflesh, the feel of the reins and a freshly-curried coat, and the sheer bliss of spending time with horses and friends. I have to wait (somewhat impatiently) while my son finishes each new book that Ellen writes!

I bought this book after hiring a trainer that had a bit of a "rough" approach. The author's approach is all about positive reinforcement so it was a great perspective to get. While we are still struggling with our 14 week old Tibetan Terrier, we have used many of the training guidelines outlined in the book. If you too have a puppy, good luck...you will need it!

This book is fabulous! While being extremely helpful in teaching you how to have a great realtionship with your dog, it is also almost like reading a novel!? It is entertaining, engaging and the advice really works!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals.

Too many people seeing the ideal dog on TV or movies, or maybe a super bright one who does lovely tricks, want their dog to be the `perfect dog'. You know, the dog that *never* digs, that *never* jumps up to lick a child, the dog who would never dream of barking, and maybe even rescue 500 kids from a burning building etc. Honestly, for most dogs of average trainability and intelligence, and most realistic owners who want a well behaved companion, not a human substitute that will thrill friends, this book is the book. You will end up with a mannerly, pleasant to live with dog, and you won't have to spend ages doing it. The approach is sensible, realistic and very simple.

Since getting my 6 week old puppy I have become so interested in dog behavior and training and started reading tons of books. When trying to apply various training techniques I realized many did not work, in fact some lead to my puppy regressing. Any type of physical correction no matter how gentle just did not work. I started realizing that when teaching anything, they have to learn how to do it on their own without any force. We are there just as positive motivators. Thats what this book is able to teach. How to motivate your puppy to do commands, have manors, and follow directions by encouragement and positive rewards. I like that she uses food rewards and toys as rewards, but in moderation. This is a great book and I could tell right away the author understood what so many people do wrong and what we can do right. If you are searching for books to help you raise your puppy, small breed dog, and even larger breed dog I sincerely encourage you to buy this book, it is well worth the money and I only wish the book was even bigger!! I am now teaching my puppy to "drop it" on command, you know how puppies like to put everything in their mouths=). With the technique in this book my puppy has learned it in one day and she didn't even know we were training. When we play with her toys and she is in the middle of chewing it in her mouth, I say "Goober Drop it" and show her a nice treat. She drops the toy right away and I give her the treat. Then I start saying "goober drop it" without showing her ther treat and after she drops it I give her the treat. After a while you can sometimes give her a treat. This is great for puppies to learn and you will learn how to teach this and so much more in a way that is positive and motivational!! This is the first book out of many I read and bought that I highly recomend.

On the subject of raising your voice to your dog, Jody Rosengarten advises, "He can hear a Frito fall at 250 yards. There's no need to yell." When I picked myself up off the floor and did some deep breathing to relieve my belly-laughing- induced tummy-ache, I knew I had found the dog book for me. It goes without saying that common sense is so simple as to often be overlooked. Never is the need for common sense made more glaringly apparent than in this book. If you've never had a dog and are thinking about getting one, read Rosengarten. If you've had dogs for years and think you know all there is to know about their training, read Rosengarten. As a matter of fact, if you think you never want to have a dog, read Rosengarten. She could change your mind and that would be a good thing.

Excellent book steeped in history and written with great style. One can almost feel Africa and how Safaris changed people as well as a country.

This book, Safari, is one of the best books I have ever read. The
chapters can be read individually yet read perfectly as a whole.
I bought a number of the books as gifts. They were VERY well received.
Thank you for this excellent product.

Safari: A Chronicle Of Adventure details the history of the African safari from its first expedition of 1836 to modern times. Bull is an environmentalist, so his survey Safari isn't your typical gun-hunter's celebration of good old days, but a survey of conflicts between hunting and conservation, weapons and transport, game control and more. From economics and financers of the safari to mishaps, adventures, and famous personalities involved in safaris, vintage black and white photos pair with wide-ranging personal and political stories for maximum effect.

A wonderful book covering the beginnings of the African Safari to the present. Many current authors use this book as reference for their own books such as Peter Beard, Bibi Jordan, Kuki Gallman, and Mirella Ricciardi. If all of these authors use this book as a reference and quote it throughout their own books it has just got be good. I recommend it highly for any African Safari book collection!

This well written book documents the evolution of Safaris from the early Boer settlers through the modern camera hunters.

I bought this story for my 3-year-old niece after her dog died. I read it to my girls before giving it to her and my 5-year-old and I both cried. The book is a very touching example of a girl's relationship with her dog. The pictures are excellent and the words simple enough for many ages. My sister said she found it helpful to help her daughter with the experience.

This box of Kleenex book is about a young girl preparing to say goodbye to her beautiful dog LuLu. She, like the young boy in I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU describes how she and the dog grew up together and have been lifelong friends. She recounts how she and her beautiful dog played together, yet lately her dog no longer can see or hear or move around comfortably. LuLu becomes lethargic and spends a lot of her time sleeping.

LuLu eventually dies and the girl's mother tells her the sad news. The girl goes through the usual and expected grieving states of sadness and anger. Her father tells her that she can pick out another dog, but the girl insists that LuLu in her healthier days is the only dog she wants.

Like the boy in I'LL ALWAYS LOVE YOU, the family buries LuLu in their back yard. To honor the dog's memory, they plant a cherry tree over her grave. It is then when that tree is in blossom that the girl can finally say goodbye and fully accept the death of her beloved dog. She even gets a new puppy.

This is a very moving and wonderful book that might even make you cry. It was especially poignant for me because as a child I had a terrier mix who looked a lot like LuLu and I was quite sad when she became old and infirm and died. She was a wonderful dog.

This is a book that will help ALL ages move through and recognize the grieving process. Excellent books like this and I'll Always Love You, Old Dog and the Christmas Wish, Jasper's Day and The Rainbow Bridge: Pet Loss Is Heaven's Gain help children AND adults realize that not only is it okay to be sad, but it is understandable and even accepted. Anger is often part of the grieving process, especially when a beloved pet dies. This astute author reminds all readers and listeners that these feelings will eventually pass and in time the child and others who loved the pet can think fondly on the animal with love and happiness.

I give this book the highest possible endorsement. People of ANY age who have ever lost a pet or who have a pet near death will find comfort in this book.

To Corinne Demas, I say a heartfelt (with tears in my eyes) THANK YOU!

In this heart-felt book, a young girl must learn to deal with the impending death of her beloved dog, Lu Lu. Told in first-person style, the little girl and her loyal dog have been friends for many years. Lu Lu wags her tail when the girl comes home from school, and they spend hours playing together. However, the little girl has noticed that Lu Lu is unable to do many of the things she used to. She's getting old, and she's lost her sight and hearing.

The little girl seems to realize what's happening to her best friend. She has to carry Lu Lu outside and feed her food and water to her. Lu Lu has lost most of her energy, and she spends most of her time sleeping.

Finally, the sad day arrives, and the girl's mother tells the little girl that Lu Lu has died. The little girl is sad, but she's also upset and angry. Her father tells her that she may have another dog, but she only wants Lu Lu back the way she was when she was a puppy. The family buries Lu Lu in a box in the back yard. The following spring, they plant a cherry tree over Lu Lu's tiny gravesite. Only then can the little girl say goodbye. She even gets a new puppy to love.

This is a very touching book. My family has a terminally ill dog, and this book helps young children to understand the grieving process in losing a beloved pet. My children have known our dog their entire lives, and great books like this one help them understand that its ok to be sad, upset, and even angry when a pet dies. The most important thing that this book points out is that eventually, the anger, pain, and sadness will eventually go away, then the child can look back on their times with the pet with happiness.

I give this book my highest recommendation. Children and adults who have lost, or are going to lose a pet will find its story touching and moving, and the ideas contained inside will help with the grieving process; not just the process for children, but adults as well.

Saying Goodbye to Lulu is a wonderfully written and illustrated book, depicting the thoughts and emotions surrounding the last days and passing on of a beloved pet. It captures the feeling that most pet owners have as our pets age; that we want our pets to be back the way they were when they were younger and healthier. The pictures and descriptions show Lulu's days and activities in the present time, and the things her young friend does to accomodate Lulu's infirmities, in a loving and matter-of-fact way. Interspersed are pictures showing Lulu during her younger days, and pictures showing her and her young friend growing up together---pictures any pet owner can relate to.

When Lulu passes on, the book captures the sadness that lingers, until finally, time has made it possible for our young friend to open her heart to a new little life to love and cherish. We are left with the feeling that we can continue to love our departed pets, while having the ability to love a new one as well.

Thankfully, our pet is neither old or sick; however, my daughter still loves the book. In the book, the changing seasons is a gentle metaphor for the life cycle. Highly recommend!